The minister of justice says reducing the number of repeat offenders tying up the courts will help to alleviate some of the pressures on the system as a whole.

Helen Conway Ottenheimer is just back from a trip to Ontario where she visited the courts and explored what she calls “innovative court models” being used in Kenora and London.

She was responding to questions about recent court closures in the province.

The minister deferred to the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court on operational issues, but did say “there is much to be encouraged about.”

“Because when we see a reduction of repeat offenders, that is going to reduce the pressures that we see in our system, the delays that we see in our court system. Because if we have fewer people that are in the courts…fewer people in our correctional facilities, that is going to have a direct impact on our court closures.”

The minister admits there have been disruptions, but “the courts are open.”

“There still is access to justice, but from time to time there are disruptions.”